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Mitch Lipka is one of the nation's leading consumer journalists. He writes the consumer column for The Boston Globe, and also contributes to Reuters and CBS News. He was the 2010 recipient of the New York Press Club award for best consumer reporting online.

The FBI issued a warning to those wanting to donate money to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti to make sure they are giving money to a legitimate charity.
Tragedies bring out not only the best in people, but the worst, too. Major disasters have been a catalyst for scammers, who know people will be digging into their pockets to help those in need. If there's a chance at getting people's money, the crooks will pounce on it like a shark sensing blood.

It happens during hurricanes in the U.S., it happened with the Indian Ocean tsunami and it is certain crop again in the coming days -- if it hasn't already started.

The FBI offers the following advice for those considering making donations:

Don't reply to unsolicited emails or click on any links in them

Be wary of people claiming to be an official or a victim asking for a donation

Rather than follow a link intended to show you a claim is legitimate -- it's easy to spoof a real site -- go to the known site of the charity without following the links, such as the American Red Cross' RedCross.org.

Don't open email attachments, such as those claiming to show pictures from the disaster, unless it comes from a known sender

Make your contributions directly to a charity rather than going through someone else